Details

Using traditional tools and methods, Awudu Saaed of Ghana crafts this set of 3 small masks. The masks are carved by hand from rubberwood and then adorned with recycled glass beads in various patterns. Local clay is also applied to achieve an "aged" look. The artisan names the set Tikro nko gyinaa, an Akan expression meaning "One head doesn't constitute a council".

Please note: Sizes are approximate. Colors and motifs may vary, but the theme will be similar.

Product Reviews By Customers

Meet the Artist

Meet the Artist

"I was determined to make it and also be able to take care of my siblings. This inspired me to bear all these risks."

"I am a friendly but quiet person, and when I was a kid I used to follow some friends back home after school. Their parents had a workshop where carvers, designers, and finishers were always busy working, and I loved watching what they did and how they did it. Noticing my interest, I was given the opportunity to try my hands at sandpapering the carved items by observing the older people. As I improved, I began learning how to design and finish a product. I think that because I admired this work so much I was a fast learner.

"I had to drop out of school due to financial difficulties – mother was alone looking after us six children. I wanted to be able to help her, and so I decided to join the workshop full time. My younger brother also joined me, and together we decided to work very hard so we could send the rest of our siblings to school.

"The master at the workshop knew of our situation and allowed us to sell some of the works we were able to finish by ourselves. That way we could make some money and take it home to add it up to the little money mother was able to make.

"Our situation began to change gradually as I improved designing and finishing carved items. I was also taught how to carve masks, but I prefer designing and painting. I see myself more as a designer and a finisher. After serving a while under master Abdul Karim Star [Novica featured artist], I started to work on my own since 1996.

"Starting on my own was not easy at all, but what helped me was that while working for my master, the little money I made I used it to buy the basic tools that I needed. I used to travel by road to Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso to sell my work at fairs.

"I was determined to make it and also be able to take care of my siblings. The long travel paid off, my works were selling well, and I was able to put my siblings through school. This inspired me to bear all these risks of traveling.

"However one day, on route with a friend to an artisan fair in Dakar, we were in a serious accident. We were traveling by bus and we had quite a few carvings we intended to sell. But the bus was fully packed and could not climb the hill on the border between Burkina Faso and Mali. The driver decided to reverse down and we ended up somersaulting into a ditch.

"It was 2 am when it happened, and all was very dark. My friend and I weren’t as seriously injured as others so we walked to the nearest village with two other men to try to get some help. We told our story to the police, who drove us back to the accident. The most injured people had already been taken to the hospital so the police just left us there! We picked our belongings, rescued the carvings that hadn’t been damaged and we hitched a ride into Dakar.

"Fortunately our client there helped us – we had spent the money we had in medical expenses. Our client got in touch with other people and they bought all the remaining pieces, and that was just about enough for us to be able to get back home.

"Once home it all sort of hit me and I got into a bad state – I didn't leave home or work for a year. Eventually, I realized our family finances were in danger and my brother needed help at the workshop. I went there and after seeing everyone work so hard I wanted to carve again. At first, it was hard to stop thinking about the accident, but through carving I know I have overcome it.

"I have exhibited my work in Ghana's Trade Fair (in 2010 and 2011), and now I also train people as designers and finishers. Now three of these apprentices work with me while others have started their own workshops.

"My dream for the future is to further my education and expand my workshop to be able to train more people."

We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.

This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.

Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.

If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.

In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.

This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).

WOMEN

S

M

L

XL

XXL

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

BUST

35

36

37

38

39

41

42

44

45

47

WAIST

27

28

29

30

31

33

34

35

36

37

HIPS

37

38

39

40

41

43

44

46

47

48

MEN

S

M

L

XL

XXL

CHEST

36 - 38

39 - 41

42 - 44

46 - 48

50 - 52

WAIST

29 - 31

32 - 34

35 - 37

38 - 40

41 - 43

NECK

14 - 14.5

15 - 15.5

16 - 16.5

17 - 17.5

18 - 18.5

SLEEVE

32.5

33.5

34.5

35.5

36.5

FINDING YOUR SIZE

Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.

BUST / CHEST

Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.

WAIST

Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.

LOW WAIST

Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.

HIPS

Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.

NECK

Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.

SLEEVE

Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.

INSEAM

Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.

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WIN # 1 You Save!

Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. UNICEF USA partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from UNICEF Market to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.

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Each item purchased from UNICEF Market will benefit UNICEF's programs that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.